Time light system



y 1931. T. H. MAPEL 1,815,686

TIME LIGHT SYSTEM I Filed Sept. 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w W1 W!" July 28, 1931. H MAPEL 1,816,686

TIME LIGHT SYSTEM Filed Sept. 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Ema/mp1 INVENTOR Patented July 28, 1931 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS H. MAPEL, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS TIME LIGHT SYSTEM Application filed September 30, 1927. Serial No. 223,210.

This invention relates totime controlled switches and has for an object the provision of means for automatically opening or closing an electric circuit or circuits and for selectively regulating the time of such opening and closing, the invention being useful in connection with the lighting and ignition systems of automobiles, street and building lighting, as well as for controlling the circuits of various electrical devices.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described,.i1lustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings c Figure 1 is an elevation showing a portion of an instrument or other panel with the :0 invention applied.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation partly in section.

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially :5 on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention as shown is contained within a casing or housing which includes a time compartment 10 and a switch compartment 11, the latter being relatively narrow and in communication with the time compartment. p,

Located within the switch compartment are spaced stationary contacts 12, one of which is connected by means of a conductor 13 with a binding post 14 while the other is connected by means of a conductor 15 with a binding post 16. The switch may thus be connected in an electric circuit. Operating within the compartment 11 is a plunger rod 17 which carries at one end a contact member 18. This rod is slidable through a tubular member 19 and has mounted thereon a spring 20. This springis arranged within the tubular member and has one of its ends bearing against one inner end of said member and o its opposite end bearing against a collar 21 which abuts a pin 22. Thus movement of the contact member 18 in the direction of the spaced contacts 12 will be yieldingly resisted by the spring.

The time compartment contains the usual time mechanism, and in addition is provided with" a shaft23. This shaft has secured thereon a gear 24 which is driven from the timemechanisml through a pinion 25 which meshes withv a gear 26. This'last mentioned gear may be mounted upon the hour arbor of the time mechanism. Pivotally mounted within the timecompartment as shownat 27 is a lever 28. The upper end of this lever is connected to the rod 17 by means of a link 29. The lever 28 has extending therefrom a roller 30 and this roller is, engaged by-a cam 31 which is fast upon a. sleeve 32 slidable upon the shaft 23. As will be seen from the drawings, rotation of the cam 31 by the time mechanism will move the lever28 pivotally and when this lever is moved in one direction, the switch will be closed by. the contact member 18 bridging the contacts 12. This closing movement of the switch is resisted by the spring 20,'the latter acting to open the switch when the lever is permitted to move in an opposite direction.

The shaft-23 is longitudinally movable and carries at one end a finger piece 33 which has secured thereto a pointer 34. This pointer is movable over a dial 35 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and this dial is graduated to provide hour and half hour divisions. Movement of the shaft 23 in one direction is resisted by a spring 36, while'a spring 37 also'resists longitudinal movement of the sleeve 32 in one direction. The sleeve 32 also carries the gear 24 which isdriven from tliepinion 25. One end of the sleevev is providedwith diametrically extending recesses 38'for the reception of a pin '39ccarried bytheshaft23. p I

By moving the shaft 23 inward against the action of the spring 36, the pin-39 may be engaged in the recesses 38 so as to lock the shaft tothesleeveQ Further inwardmova meat will move the sleeve Ion itudinaliyagainst the action of the spring'a' so thatthe gear 24 may be disengaged from the pinion 25. The shaft, and consequently the cam 31 may then be rotated so as to selectively position the cam with respect to the roller 30. If it is desired to operate the switch at a predetermined hour, for example, six oclock, the shaft 23 is moved as described so as to bring the pointer over the numeral six on the dial 25. The finger piece is then released so that the cam and gear 24 will resume their normal positions. The cam 31 will then rotate under the action of the time mechanism and as soon as the roller 30 rides upon the high portion of the cam, the contact member 18 will be forced inward to bridge the contacts 12 and close the circuit. After the cam has made a one-half revolution, the circuitwill be automatically opened. If desired however, the cam may be reset to open the circuit at an earlier period, the circuit being opened under the action of the spring as long as the roller 30 rides on the low part of the cam.

The casing is provided with apertured ears so that it may be secured to an instrument or other panel 41. The time mechanism is provided with the usual clock dial 42 and hands 43 and this dial and the dial 35 which is a portion of the clock dial, is normally covered by a cover 44 which is hinged at 44. The invention is useful in controlling circuits for'various electrical devices. It may be used for controlling a circuit through the parking lamp of an automobile, so that the lamp will be automatically lighted and extinguished at predetermined intervals. It may be also connected in the lighting and ignition circuits of an automobile by employing an auxiliary switch whereby the device may be connected in any of the circuits.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention what is claimed is A time control circuit closing device comprising a casing having an extension, clock mechanism housed within the casing, spaced contacts arranged within the extension, conductor wires leading from the contacts for connection with an electrical unit to be supplied with current, a plunger mounted in the extension, a contact mounted at one end of the plunger and adapted for bridging engagement with the first mentioned contacts in one position of sliding movement of the plunger, an abutment upon the plunger, :1 spring bearing against the abutment and yieldably urging the plunger to a retracted position, a shaft mounted in the casing, a gear upon the shaft, a pinion meshing with the gear and with a gear of the clock mechanism whereby to provide for rotation of the shaft in timed relation to the operation of the clock mechanism, a lever arm pivotally mounted within the housing, operative connection between the outer end of the arm and the said plunger, an abutment element upon 

